Arab, Asian face court over fraud charges

Two men, an Arab and an Asian, on Tuesday stood before the Criminal Court in Dubai over defrauding Dhs152,000 from a British manager as a part of annual rent of a villa.

The defendants reportedly forged a certificate of registering lease data issued by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, to convince the victim that they own the said villa.

The incident dates back to the time when the defendants placed an ad of a villa available for rent in Jumeirah Gardens, on a promotional website.

Their phone numbers were included. 

When the victim contacted one of the numbers, the first suspect answered and claimed he was the owner of the villa. After arranging an appointment, he met him at the villa to see it. 

While the second suspect attended with fake documents, along with a photocopy of the first suspect’s passport and the EID. The victim did not think or doubt that they might be swindlers, so he issued three cheques and signed a lease contract.  The first suspect then encashed two of the cheques immediately. 

The victim testified that he was told that the second suspect would hand over the key on the next day, in exchange for the remaining cheques.

The victim then failed to reach the defendants, as their mobile phones were switched off.

Also during the day, the Criminal Court in Dubai looked into a case in which a 23-year-old GCC national employee was charged with smuggling prohibited items and substances.

The suspect reportedly tried to pass 27 grammes of cocaine and 29 filters of electronic cigarette containing cannabis.

The suspect pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to smuggle the aforementioned items.

According to the police records, the suspect was caught in possession of a plastic wrap sealed with adhesive tape containing white powder.

It was found out that the seized powder was cocaine weighing 27 grammes.

In addition, 29 electronic cigarette filters containing a yellow viscous liquid, weighing 787.18 grammes, were also seized. 

The liquid was found containing Indian hemp, which is banned by law.